Cards and devices with magnetic emulators and magnetic reader read-head detectors

ABSTRACT

A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to act as a magnetic stripe read-head detector and a data transmitter. A multiple layer flexible PCB may be fabricated to include multiple magnetic emulators. Layers of the flexible PCB may include magnetic shielding in order to reduce interference from the magnetic emulators to particular read-heads on a magnetic stripe reader.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV), 61/026,846 filed on Feb. 7, 2008 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV2),61/027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008 (Docket. No. JDM/020 PROV), 61/081,003filed on Jul. 15, 2008 (Docket No. D/005 PROV), 61/086,239 filed on Aug.5, 2008 (Docket No. D/006 PROV), 61/090,423 filed on Aug. 20, 2008(Docket No. D/007 PROV), 61/097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008 (Docket No.D/008 PROV), 61/112,766 filed on Nov. 9, 2008 (Docket No. D/009 PROV),61/117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008 (D/010 PROV), 61/119,366 filed on Dec.2, 2008 (Docket No. D/011 PROV), and 61/120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008,all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that maytransmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magneticemulator. The magnetic emulator may be, for example, a circuit thatemits electromagnetic fields operable to electrically couple with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader such that data may be transmittedfrom the circuit to the magnetic stripe reader. The emulator may beoperated serially such that information is transmitted serially to amagnetic stripe reader. Alternatively, for example, portions of amagnetic emulator may emit different electromagnetic fields at aparticular instance such that the emulator is operated to providephysically parallel, instantaneous data. Alternatively still, a magneticmedium may be provided and a circuit may be provided to change themagnetic properties of the magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader is operable to read information written on the magnetic medium.

A processor may be provided on a card, or other device, that controls amagnetic emulator. The processor may be configured to operate theemulator such that the emulator transmits serial or parallelinformation. Particularly, the processor may decouple portions of anemulator from one another such that different portions of the emulatormay transmit different information (e.g., transmit data in a paralleloperation). The processor may couple portions of an emulator together(or drive the portions together) such that all portions of the emulatortransmits the same information (e.g., transmit data in a serialoperation). Alternatively, the processor may drive a portion of theemulator to transmit data using one method (e.g., serially) while theprocessor drives another portion of the emulator using a differentmethod (e.g., in parallel).

The processor may drive an emulator through a switching circuit. Theswitching circuit may control the direction and magnitude of currentthat flows through at least a portion of an emulator such that theswitching circuit controls the direction and magnitude of theelectromagnetic field created by at least that portion of the emulator.An electromagnetic field may be generated by the emulator such that theemulator is operable to electrically couple with a read-head from amagnetic stripe reader without making physical contact with theread-head. Particularly, for example, an emulator that is driven withincreased current can be operable to couple with the read-head of amagnetic stripe reader even when placed outside and within the proximityof (e.g., 0.25 inches) the read-head.

A processor may detect, for example, the presence of a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader by receiving signals from a magnetic stripereader detector and, in response, the processor may drive a magneticemulator in a manner that allows the emulator to couple with themagnetic stripe reader. More than one emulator may be provided on a cardor other device and a processor may drive such emulators in a variety ofdifferent manners.

A circuit may be provided on a credit card that is operable to receivedata from a device, such as a magnetic stripe. In this manner, a card,or other device, may communicate bi-directionally with a device.

An emulator may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader outside of,for example, the housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, forexample, the emulator may be provided in devices other than cards sizedto fit inside of the reading area of a magnetic stripe reader. In otherwords, for example, the emulator may be located in a device that isthicker than a card—yet the emulator can still communicate with one ormore read-heads located in a magnetic stripe reader. Such a device maybe, for example, a security token, a wireless communications device, alaptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a physical lock key to ahouse and/or car, or any other device.

Dynamic information may be provided by a processor located on the card,or other device, and communicated through a magnetic emulator. Suchdynamic information may, for example, change based on time. For example,the dynamic information may be periodically encrypted differently. Oneor more displays may be located on a card, or other device, such thatthe dynamic information may be displayed to a user through the display.Buttons may be provided to accept input from a user to, for example,control the operation of the card or other device.

Dynamic information may include, for example, a dynamic number that isused as, or part of, a number for a credit card number, debit cardnumber, payment card number, and/or payment verification code. Dynamicinformation may also include, for example, a student identificationnumber or medical identification number. Dynamic information may also,for example, include alphanumeric information such that a dynamicaccount name is provided.

Magnetic emulation circuits may be provided that generateelectromagnetic fields. The emulation circuits may have active regionsoperable to be read by a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Theemulation circuits may also have, for example, non-active regions thatare not operable to be read by a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader.Multiple emulation circuits may be provided on different layers suchthat the active regions of multiple emulation circuits provide aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader continuous visibility to activeregions while a card is swiped.

Magnetic emulation circuits may extend across multiple tracks. However,the areas of such magnetic emulation circuits that extended to undesiredtracks may be configured to be invisible to the read-heads for thosetracks. For example, a magnetic emulator may produce magnetic fieldsthat are not oriented properly to be picked up by unintendedread-head(s) but that are oriented properly to be picked up by intendedread-head(s).

Read-head detectors may be provided to determine, for example, when acard is being swiped and/or when a read-head is located over aparticular portion of a card (e.g., a magnetic emulation circuit). Amagnetic emulation circuit may be provided as, for example, a coil.Portions of such a coil may be utilized to detect a read-head while inother portions of the coil may be utilized to communicate informationelectromagnetically to a read-head. Accordingly, a coil may be utilizedto detect a read-head and, after a read-head is detected, the coil maybe utilized to, for example, serially transmit information to a magneticstripe reader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a circuit and flow charts constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a circuit and flow charts constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a personal electronic device constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that includes printed information 111 and 120,displays 112 and 113, and buttons 130-134. Card 100 may be, for example,a payment card such as a credit card, debit card, and/or gift card.Payment information, such as a credit/debit card number may be providedas static information 111, dynamic information 112 and/or 113, or anycombination thereof.

For example, a particular number of digits of a credit card number(e.g., the last 3 digits) may be provided as dynamic information. Suchdynamic information may be changed periodically (e.g., once every hour).Information may be changed via, for example, encryption. Software may beprovided at, for example, the payment verification server that verifiesthe dynamic information for each period of time such that a payment canbe validated and processed for a particular user. A user may beidentifies using, for example, static information that is used to form acredit card number or other static information (e.g., information 120).Additionally, identification information may be derived (e.g., embedded)in dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata credit card number may have, for example, a length of 15 or 16 digits.A credit card number may also have a length of up to 19 digits. Averification code may be used with some payment systems and such averification code may be provided statically on the card or may beprovided as dynamic information. Such a verification code may beprovided on a second display located on, for example, the front or rearsurface of card 100. Alternatively, a verification code may be displayedon the same display as other dynamic information (e.g., dynamicinformation 112). A display may be, for example, a flexible electronicink display. Such a flexible electronic ink display may, for example,utilize power to change displayed information, but may not utilize powerto display information after the information is changed.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152. A magnetic emulator may be provided as device 151.Device 151 may be operable to electrically couple with a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata read-head housing of a magnetic stripe reader may be provided withone, two, or three active read-heads that are operable to each couplewith a separate magnetic track of information. A reader may also havemore than one read-head housing and each read-head housing may beprovided with one, two, or three active read-heads that are operable toeach couple with a separate magnetic track of information. Suchread-head housings may be provided different surfaces of a magneticstripe reader. For example, the read-head housings may be provided onopposite walls of a trough sized to accept payment cards. Accordingly,the devices on the opposite sides of the trough may be able to read acredit card regardless of the direction that the credit card was swiped.

A magnetic emulator may be provided and may be positioned on card 150such that when card 150 is swiped through a credit card reader, themagnetic emulator passes underneath, or in the proximity of, a read-headfor a particular magnetic track. An emulator may be large enough tosimultaneously pass beneath, or in the proximity of, multipleread-heads. Information may be transmitted, for example, serially to oneor more read-heads. Information from different tracks of data may alsobe transmitted serially and the magnetic stripe reader may determine thedifferent data received by utilize the starting and/or ending sentinelsthat define the information for each track. A magnetic emulator may alsotransmit a string of leading and/or ending zeros such that a magneticreader may utilize such a string of zeros to provide self-clocking. Indoing so, for example, information may be transmitted serially at highspeeds to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, credit card informationmay be transmitted to a magnetic stripe reader at speeds up to, andgreater than, 30 Khz).

Different emulators may be provided, and positioned, on card 150 to eachcouple with a different read-head and each emulator may providedifferent track information to those different read-heads. Read-headdetectors may be utilized to detect when a read-head is over an emulatorsuch that an emulator is controlled by a processor to operate when aread-head detector detects the appropriate presence of a read-head. Indoing so, power may be saved. Additionally, the read-head detector maydetect how many read-heads are reading the card and, accordingly, onlycommunicate with the associated emulators. In doing so, additional powermay be conserved. Accordingly, an emulator may be utilized tocommunicate dynamic information to a magnetic stripe reader. Suchdynamic information may include, for example, dynamic payment cardinformation that changes based on time.

A static magnetic stripe may be provided to transmit data for one ormore tracks to a magnetic strip reader where dynamic information is notdesired. Card 150, for example, may include static magnetic track 153and static magnetic track 152. Information on static magnetic tracks 152and 153 may be encoded via a magnetic stripe encoder. Device 151 mayinclude an emulator such that dynamic information may be communicatedthrough emulator 151. Any combination of emulators and static magnetictracks may be utilized for a card or device.

One or more batteries, such as flexible lithium polymer batteries, maybe utilized to form card 100. Such batteries may be electrically coupledin a serial combination to provide a source of power to the variouscomponents of card 100. Alternatively, separate batteries may providepower to different components of card 100. For example, a battery mayprovide power to a processor and/or display of card 100, while anotherbattery provides a source of energy to one or more magnetic emulators ofcard 100. In doing so, for example, a processor may operate even afterthe battery that supplies power to an emulator completely discharges.Accordingly, the processor may provide information to another componentof card 100. For example, the processor may display information on adisplay to indicate to a user that the magnetic emulator is not longeroperational due to power exhaustion. Batteries may be, for example,rechargeable and contacts, or other devices, may be provided on card 100such that the battery may be recharged.

Buttons (e.g., buttons 130-134) may be provided on a card. Such buttonsmay allow a user to manually provide information to a card. For example,a user may be provided with a personal identification code (e.g., a PIN)and such a personal identification code may be required to be manuallyinputted into a card using the buttons in order for the card to operatein a particular manner. For example, the use of a magnetic emulator orthe use of a display may require a personal identification code.

By dynamically changing a portion of a user's credit card number, forexample, credit card fraud is minimized. By allowing the dynamicinformation to displayed visually to a user, and changed magnetically ona card, user behavior change is minimized (with respect to a credit cardwith completely static information). By requiring the use of a personalidentification code, the fraud associated with lost or stolen creditcards is minimized. Fraud associated with theft/loss is minimized asthird party users do not know the personal identification code needed tooperate particular aspects of a credit card with dynamic information.

FIG. 2 shows card 200. Card 200 may include, for example, staticmagnetic stripe track 203, static magnetic stripe track 201, andmagnetic emulator 202 sandwiched between read-head detectors 204 and205. A read-head detector may, for example, be provided as a circuitthat detects, for example, changes in capacitance or mechanical couplingto a conductive material. Processor 220 may be provided to, for example,receive information from read-head detectors 204 and 205 and controlemulator 202. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that processor220 may cause a current to flow through a coil of emulator 202 in adifferent direction to produce different electromagnetic fields. Thetransitions between the different electromagnetic fields may be sensedby a magnetic stripe reader as information. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may transmit data serially while a read-head is electricallycoupled with a magnetic reader.

RFID antenna 210 may be provided on card 200. Such an RFID antenna maybe operable to transmit information provided by processor 220. In doingso, for example, processor 220 may communicate with an RFID device usingRFID antenna 210 and may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader usingmagnetic emulator 202. Both RFID antenna 210 and magnetic emulator 202may be utilized to communicate payment card information (e.g., creditcard information) to a reader. Processor 240 may also be coupled todisplay 240 such that dynamic information can be displayed on display240. Button array 230 may also be coupled to processor 220 such that theoperation of card 200 may be controlled, at least in part, by manualinput received by button array 230.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a static magnetic trackmay be a read-write track such that information may be written to amagnetic track from a magnetic stripe reader that includes a headoperable to magnetically encode data onto a magnetic track. Informationmay be written to a magnetic track as part of a payment process (e.g., acredit card or debit card transaction). Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a static magnetic track may include a magnetic materialthat includes ferromagnetic materials that provide for flux-reversalssuch that a magnetic stripe reader can read the flux-reversals from thestatic magnetic track. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may communicate information that remains thesame from payment card transaction to payment card transaction (e.g.,static information) as well as information that changes betweentransactions (e.g., dynamic information).

A card may include magnetic emulators without, for example, including astatic magnetic track. Read-head detectors may also be provided. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic reader may includethe ability to read two tracks of information (e.g., may include atleast two read-heads). All of the information needed to perform afinancial transaction (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction) may beincluded on two magnetic tracks. Alternatively, all of the informationneeded to perform a financial transaction (e.g., a gift cardtransaction) may be included on one magnetic track. Accordingly,particular cards, or other devices, may include the ability, forexample, to only transmit data associated with the tracks that areneeded to complete a particular financial transaction. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that for systems with three tracks ofinformation, the bottom two tracks may be utilized for credit cardinformation. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that asecure credit card transaction may be provided by only changing, forexample, one of two magnetic tracks utilized in a credit cardtransaction (for those transactions that utilize two tracks).Accordingly, one track may be a static magnetic track constructed from amagnetic material and the other track may be provided as a magneticemulator. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that numerousadditional fields of data may be provided on a magnetic track inaddition to a credit card number (or a security code). Dynamicinformation may be provided in such additional fields in order tocomplete a particular financial transaction. For example, suchadditional dynamic information may be numbers (or characters), encryptedwith time and synced to software, at a validating server, operable tovalidate the encrypted number for a particular period of time.

Card 250 includes emulator 251 that includes active region 254 operableto communicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Similarly, forexample, emulator 251 may receive information for a magnetic stripeencoder. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that emulator 251includes a tail that is spread-out. Such a tail may include the returnlines of emulator 251 and may be spaced such that a magnetic reader isnot able to pick up the electromagnetic fields generated by such a tail.Accordingly, active region 254 may be spaced close together such that amagnetic stripe reader is able to pick up the cumulative electromagneticfield generated by such an active region. Processor 253 may driveemulator 251 via switching circuitry 252. Switching circuitry 252 mayinclude, for example, one or more transistors that may be utilized tocontrol the direction of current via emulator 251 (e.g., the polarity ofvoltage(s) across a drive resistor).

Magnetic shielding may be provided to limit an electromagnetic field ofan emulator. For example, layer 310 of FIG. 3 may include magneticshielding 311 (which may be a magnetic material). Magnetic shielding mayblock magnetic fields from emulator 351 on layer 320. Accordingly, forexample, a card may not interact with read-heads blocked from emulator351 from magnetic shielding 311. In doing so, for example, a magneticstripe reader may receive information from a single read-head of aread-head housing at any given time. Layer 330 may be provided, forexample, with magnetic shielding 331 that includes an active-regionspace 332. Accordingly, layer 330 may block magnetic fields fromemulator 351 except for those fields generated by active portion 354(e.g., if space 332 is aligned with active portion 354).

FIG. 4 shows environment 400 that may include magnetic stripe reader410, read-head housing 440, card 420, and magnetic emulator 430.Read-head housing 440 may include any number of read-head's such as, forexample, one, two, or three read-heads. Each read-head may independentlyreceive magnetic fields from magnetic emulator 430 (or a magneticstripe, such as a magnetic stripe encoded on-card by card 420). Emulator430 may be positioned to be adjacent to any one or more read-heads ofread-head housing 440 or may be positioned to communicate information toany one or more read-heads of read-head housing 440. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulators with longer lengths may belocated within the proximity of one or more read-heads for a longerduration of time when a card is swiped. In doing so, for example, moreinformation may be transmitted from an emulator to a read-head when acard is being swiped.

FIG. 5 includes environment 500 that may include cards 520 and 530 aswell as magnetic stripe reader 510. Read-head housing 511 may beincluded on a wall of a trough of magnetic stripe reader 510. The troughmay be sized to accept cards (e.g., credit cards).

Card 520 may include emulator 521. Emulator 521 may provideelectromagnetic field 591 that may transmit through a portion of thehousing of magnetic stripe reader 510 (e.g., through a wall of a troughto get to read-head housing 511). Accordingly, card 520 may be locatedoutside of a reader—yet still be operable to communicate information toa magnetic stripe reader. A reader may be provided with an outer wall,for example, with a thickness of a quarter of an inch or more. Emulator521 can provide electromagnetic field 591 over a distance of, forexample, a quarter of an inch or more.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 520 may be coupledto a device via a permanent or removable cable. Such a device mayprovide power to card 520 as well as control information—such as controlinformation for emulator 530. An external source of power may beutilized, for example, to provide a larger amount of electrical energyto emulator 521 than from a source of power located within card 520.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a car having an internalbattery may still be able to receive a cable from a device having itsown source of electrical energy.

Card 530 may be provided with emulator 531 and may electrically couplewith a read-head of magnetic stripe reader 510. Any number of emulatorsmay be provided in card 530 in any number of orientations such that theappropriate electromagnetic field may couple with a read head ofread-head housing 511 regardless of the orientation of card 720 withrespect to read-head 511. More particularly, for example, additionalread-head housings may be provided in magnetic stripe reader 510 atdifferent locations about the reader to electrically couple with aemulators in a number of different configurations. A sticker and/orguide-structures may be provided on a magnetic stripe reader to, forexample, direct a user on how to position his/her card (or other device)for contactless transmission of data (e.g., credit card data) to aread-head housing without using the trough that includes that read-headhousing.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe readermay include a trough that includes two (or more) read-head housings 511located in approximately the same vertical position on a card-swipingtrough, but at different horizontal locations on opposite walls of thetrough. In doing so, for example, a magnetic stripe may be readregardless of the direction that a card having the magnetic stripe isfacing when the card is swiped. Magnetic emulator 521 may, for example,communicate magnetic fields outside both the front and read surfaces ofa card. Accordingly, a single emulator 521 may, for example, couple witha single read-head regardless of the direction the card was facing whenswiped. In doing so, for example, the costs of readers may be reduced asonly a single read-head may be need to receive information regardless ofthe direction a card is facing when swiped. Accordingly, magneticreaders do not need stickers and/or indicia to show a user the correctorientation to swipe a card through a magnetic stripe reader. An adaptermay be provided that coupled directly to a read-head that allows adevice not operable to fit in a trough to electrically couple with aread-head.

An emulator may be positioned about a surface of a card (or otherdevice), beneath a surface of a device, or centered within a card. Theorientation of a magnetic emulator in a card may provide differentmagnetic fields (e.g., different strength's of magnetic fields) outsidedifferent surfaces of a card. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may be printed via PCB printing. A card mayinclude multiple flexible PCB layers and may be laminated to form acard. Portions of an electronic ink display may also be fabricated on alayer during a PCB printing process.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number does not needto, for example, change with time. Information can change, for example,based on manual input (e.g., a button press or combination of buttonpresses). Additionally, a credit card number may be a static displaynumber and may be wholly or partially displayed by a display. Such astatic credit card number may result in the reduction of fraud if, forexample, a personal identification code is required to be entered on amanual input entry system to activate the display. Additionally, fraudassociated with card cloning may be minimized with the use of a magneticemulator activated by the correct entry on a manual input entry system.

Person skilled in the art will also appreciate that a card may be clonedby a thief, for example, when the thief puts a illegitimate credit cardreader before a legitimate credit card reader and disguising theillegitimate credit card reader. Thus, a read-head detector may detect aread-head housing and then, if a second read-head housing is detected onthe same side of the credit card, the reader may transmit information tothe second read-head that signifies that two read-head housings weredetected. In doing so, for example, a bank, or the police, may benotified of the possibility of the presence of a disguised cloningdevice. The information representative of multiple read-heads may beincluded with information that would allow a credit card number to bevalidated. As such, a server may keep track of the number of read-headhousings at each reader and, if more read-head housings are detectedthan expected, the server may contact an administrator (or the police).The server may also cause the credit card transaction to process or mayreject the credit card transaction. If the number of read-head housings(or read-heads) is the number expected by the server, the server canvalidate the payment transaction.

A payment system using dynamic numbers may, for example, be operablewith numbers that are stored outside of the period in which thosenumbers would otherwise be valid. A server may be included, for example,that accepts a dynamic credit card number, information representative ofa past credit card number, and the merchant that is requesting payment.The server may register that merchant for that saved number. The numbermay be decrypted (or otherwise validated) for that past period of time.Accordingly, the credit card transaction may be validated. Additionally,the merchant identification information may be linked to the storeddynamic credit card number for that past period of time. If the serverreceives a transaction from a different merchant with that same dynamiccredit card number for that same period of time, the server may rejectthe transaction. In doing so, a merchant may be protected from havingcredit card numbers stolen from its various storage devices. If a thiefsteals a number from a merchant's server that is associated with a pastperiod of time, that number cannot be used, for example, anywhere else.Furthermore, such a topology may, for example, allow merchants toprovide a one-click shopping, periodic billing, or any other type offeature that may utilize dynamic numbers that are stored and usedoutside of the period in which the dynamic numbers were generated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different emulators maybe controlled by different switching circuitry (e.g., differenttransistors).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple buttons may becoupled together to form a single-bit bus. If any button is pressed, thebus may change states and signal to the processor to utilize differentports to determine what button was pressed. In this manner, buttons maybe coupled to non-triggerable ports of a processor. Each button (or asubset of buttons) may be coupled to one or more triggerable ports of aprocessor. A port on a microprocessor may be utilized to drive anemulator in addition to, for example, receiving information from abutton. For example, once an appropriate personal identification code isreceived by a processor, the processor may utilize one or more portsthat receive information from one or more buttons to drive an emulator(e.g., for a period of time). Alternatively, for example, a magneticemulator may be coupled to its own triggerable or non-triggerableprocessor port. A card may also include a voltage regulator to, forexample, regulate power received from an internal or external source ofpower.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of device maybe utilized to provide dynamic magnetic information on a card to amagnetic stripe reader. As discussed above, a magnetic encoder may beprovided that can change information on a magnetic medium where thechanged information can be detected by a magnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 6 includes circuits 600 that may include magnetic emulator 650 thatincludes active region 651. Magnetic emulator 650 may be, for example, acoil. Current may be provided through magnetic emulator 650 such thatthe magnetic emulator generates an electromagnetic signal. Active region651 may include a dense section of coil segments where current runsthrough those coil segments in the same direction. Accordingly, theelectromagnetic field is intensified in active region 651 compared tothe area of the coil with coil segments that are widely spaced.Accordingly, a current may be placed through the coil such that amagnetic stripe reader is operable to receive information from activeregion 651 but not the region outside active region 651. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that the direction of current throughmagnetic circuit 650 may be reversed in a pattern that is representativeof magnetic stripe data. Particularly, a processor may, for example,transmit information through a coil by changing the direction of theelectromagnetic field generated from emulator circuit 650 at particulartimes. A change in the frequency of field reversals may berepresentative of, for example, a particular bit of information (e.g.,“1” or “0”). Magnetic emulation circuit 650 may include a dense activeregion and a less dense tail region.

Magnetic emulation circuit 670 may be included that includes activeregion 671 and non-active regions 672 and 673. Active region 671 mayinclude coil segments in which current flows through the segments in thesame direction. Non-active regions 672 and 673 may include, for example,coil segment spacing that is wider than the coil segment spacing ofactive regions 671. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, forexample, that non-active regions 672 and 673 may be utilized tocommunicate information to a magnetic stripe reader. However, activeregion 671 may include a stronger electromagnetic signal then non-activeregions 672 and 673. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a read-head may travel through non-active region 672, throughactive region 671, and through non-active region 673 when readinginformation communicated from emulator circuit 670. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that the level of current provided to emulatorcircuit 670 may be configured such that a magnetic read-head receivedinformation from active region 671 but does not receive information fromnon-active regions 672 and 673. Emulator 670 may, for example, be tallenough such that more than one read-head passes over emulator 670 at anyone time. For example, one read-head from a magnetic stripe reader maypass over active region 671 and another read-head from a magnetic stripereader may pass under active region 671. Person skilled in the art willappreciate that coil segments may be configured in an orientation suchthat they produce electromagnetic fields that are invisible to suchread-heads. For example, active region 671 may include coil segmentsthat are parallel to one another. Coil segments above and below activeregion 671 may be configured to be perpendicular to the coil segments ofactive region 671 or approximately oriented at a 45 degree angle fromthe coil segments of active region 671.

Magnetic emulation circuit 680 may be provided that includes activeregion 681. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example,that the height of magnetic emulation circuit 680 may be approximatelyequal to the height of a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader suchthat, for example, only one track read-head, of a multiple trackread-head housing, passes over magnetic emulation circuit 680.

Multiple magnetic emulation circuits may be provided on a multiple layerPCB. For example, a magnetic emulation circuit may be provided withactive region 691 (e.g., active region 698) and non-active region 692(e.g., non-active region 699). Emulators may be provided on differentlayers such that active layers align with non-active layers.Accordingly, for example, a read-head may pick up a continuous stream ofactive regions. Accordingly, the active regions may be controlledthrough a common switching circuit such that current flows in the samedirection through the active regions of the multiple layer PCB at agiven time. Accordingly, the active regions may, for example, provideelectromagnetic fields in the same direction. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that the widths of coil segments of non-active regionsmay be widened to decrease the effect of those non-active regions whenmultiple non-active regions are stacked. Additionally, for example, thecoil segments of vertically stacked non-active regions may be alignedwith one another or may be staggered from one another. Furthermore, forexample, current may flow through vertically stacked non-active regionsin the same or different directions.

FIG. 7 shows card 700 that may include layers 710, 720, and 730fabricated as, for example, flexible PCB layers. Layer 710 may include,for example, magnetic emulation circuit 712 that includes active region711. Layer 720 may include, for example, magnetic emulation circuit 722that may include active region 721. Layer 730 may include magneticemulation circuit 732 that may include active region 731.

FIG. 8 includes circuit 800 that may include, for example, active-region811 and non-active regions 812 and 813.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that magnetic emulationcircuits with one non-active region may be vertically stacked withmagnetic emulation circuits with two non-active regions. Magneticemulation circuits with one non-active region may have non-activeregions that are wider than the non-active regions of a magneticemulation circuit with two non-active regions. FIG. 9 shows topology 900that may include active region 912 (e.g., active region 951), activeregion 922 (e.g., active region 952), and active region 931 (e.g.,active region 953). Non-active regions 911, 921, 923, and 932 may alsobe included.

FIG. 10 shows magnetic emulation circuit 1000 that may include region1010, 1020, and 1030. Regions 1010, 1020, and 1030 may includeapproximately the same spacing between coil segments or may providedifferent spacing between coil segments.

FIG. 11 shows circuit 1100 that may include region 1110, 1120, and 1130.Circuit 1100 may also include read-head detectors 1141, 1142, 1143, and1144. Read-head detectors 1141, 1142, 1143, and 1144 may detect aread-head and/or a read-head housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Aread-head detector may determine the presence of a read-head and/orread-head housing by detecting, for example, physical contact with aread-head and/or housing. Capacitive coupling, sonar, optical, or anyother technique may be utilized to determine the presence of a read-heador read-head detector. Accordingly, for example, region 1020 may beutilized to communicate information to a magnetic stripe reader upon thedetection of a read-head by a read-head detector. Accordingly, forexample, no current may be provided through regions 1010 and 1030 when aread-head passes over regions 1010 and 1030. Multiple read-heads may beutilized, for example, to determine the direction that a read-head ismoving as well as the read-heads velocity and/or acceleration. Suchinformation may be utilized, for example, to provide information indifferent ways. For example, a processor may transmit information at afirst rate when a user swipes a card including circuit 1100 at a firstvelocity and the processor may transmit the same (or different)information at a second rate when that user swipes the card at a secondvelocity.

FIG. 12 shows topology 1200 that may include a magnetic emulationcircuit having regions 1210, 1220, and 1230. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a magnetic emulation circuit may act as a read-headdetector as well as a magnetic information transmitter. For example, amagnetic emulator may be driven according to a process that includesstep 1241, in which a correct Personal Identification Code (e.g., a PIN)is determined to have been entered on a card. Accordingly, step 1242 mayactivate, in which a coil is driven such that its return paths act as aread-head detector. This may be done in numerous ways. For example, thecurrent providing an electromagnetic field may undergo a phase-shiftwhen a magnetic and/or conductive material is placed in theelectromagnetic field. Accordingly, a phase-shift may be determined instep 1243. When such a phase-shift is determined, step 1244 may initiateand a magnetic emulation circuit may be driven to communicate dataserially. Accordingly, regions 1210 and 1230 may be utilized to detect aread-head and region 1220 may be utilized to communicate information tothat read-head. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that amagnetic emulation circuit may not be supplied current until anappropriate Personal Identification Code (PIC) is entered into manualinterfaces located on the card. Such a scheme, for example, provides forpower savings as well as prevents card cloning. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may be driven into a read-head detector mode upon receiving anappropriate manual input and then into a data transmission mode afterdetermining the presence of a read-head.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that timing zeros may beprovided before and after data such that a magnetic stripe reader canutilize such timing zeros to perform synchronization activities.Accordingly, a magnetic stripe emulator may transmit zeros while in aread-head detector mode in step 1251 and upon the detection of a currentphase-shift in step 1252 the magnetic emulation circuit may transmitinformation in step 1253. After the data is transmitted, timing zerosmay be transmitted again in step 1254. Step 1253 may also detect thepresence of a read-head to determine, for example, whether all of theinformation was received. If a read-head was not detected after datatransmission, the processor may increase the rate of data transmissionfor future transmissions until, for example, read-heads are detected atthe beginning and the end of the transmission of data.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card may includemultiple magnetic emulation and read-head detectors circuits. In thismanner, a card may include multiple circuits that can operate as both adata transmitter and a read-head detector.

FIG. 13 includes topology 1300 that may include, for example, a magneticemulation circuit that includes regions 1310 and 1320. Read-headdetectors 1331, 1332, and 1332 may also be included.

A region (e.g., region 1310) may be utilized to determine the velocityof a read-head. For example, step 1341 may be included in which a regionis driven such that the region acts as a read-head detector. A read-headmay be detected in 1342, but the region may continue to drive the regionto act as a read-head detector in step 1344. A second read-head positionmay then be determined in step 1345. The number of times that aread-head is sensed by a detector may correlate to a velocity.Information may then be transmitted (e.g., via another region) dependingon the determined velocity. For example, the velocity of a swipe may bedetected in step 1351 and information may be transmitted according tothis velocity in step 1352. Read-head detectors 1331, 1332, and 1333 mayalso be utilized, for example, to determine the velocity of a read-headas well as the direction of movement of the read-head. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe reader may bemotorized and may read a card at a pre-determined speed. Such a card maydetermine that the card is being read by a motorized reader and mayutilize this information to transmit different information and/ortransmit information in a different manner.

FIG. 14 shows card 1400 that may include magnetic emulation circuit1420. Magnetic emulation circuit 1420 may be included on a short side ofa rectangle-shaped card—yet may transmit serially all of the informationon a track of financial payment data (e.g., credit and/or debit data).Such transmitted financial payment data may be utilized to validate afinancial payment (e.g., a credit card purchase). Any number of magneticemulation circuits may be included on any side of card 1400. Forexample, a magnetic emulation circuit may be provided on a long side ofa rectangle-shaped card and another magnetic emulation circuit may beprovided on the other long side of a rectangle-shaped card. Eachmagnetic emulation circuit may be utilized to transmit different data orthe same data.

FIG. 15 includes circuit 1500 that may include read-head detectors 1541,1542, 1543, 1544, 1545, and 1546. Circuit 1500 may include a magneticemulation circuit that includes regions 1511, 1512, 1513, 1521, 1531,1522, 1532, 1523, 1524, 1533, 1525, 1534, and 1526. Regions 1511-1513may be operable to communicate with a read-head that passes throughregions 1511-1513. The magnetic emulation circuit may include a coil.Regions 1511-1513 may include, for example, coil segments that areparallel to one another. The coil segments may produce anelectromagnetic field operable to communicate data to a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader. The coil segments of regions 1521-1526 may beoriented approximately at a 45 degree angle from the coil segments ofregions 1511-1513. Accordingly, for example, the orientation offset ofregions 1521-1526 from regions 1511-1513 may allow regions 1521-1526 toproduce an electromagnetic field that cannot communicate with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader when regions 1511-1513 arecommunicating data to a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader.Similarly, the coil segments of regions 1531-1534 may be orientedperpendicular to the coil segments of regions 1511-1513. Accordingly,for example, the orientation offset of regions 1531-1534 from regions1511-1513 may allow regions 1531-1534 to produce an electromagneticfield that cannot communicate with a read-head of a magnetic stripereader when regions 1511-1513 are communicating data to a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 16 shows card layout 1600 that may include flexible PCB layers1610, 1620, 1630, and 1640 to form card 1650. Layer 1610 may includemagnetic emulation circuit 1511. Layer 1620 may include magneticshielding 1621 and 1622. Layer 1630 may include magnetic emulationcircuit 1631. Layer 1640 may include read-head detectors (e.g.,read-head detector 1642) and magnetic shielding (e.g., shielding 1641).

FIG. 17 includes circuit 1700 that may include, for example, read-headdetectors 1741, 1742, 1751, and 1752. Circuit 1700 may also include, forexample, magnetic emulation circuits 1710, 1720, and 1730. Read-headdetectors 1741, 1742, 1751, and 1752 may be utilized as read-headdetectors and may provide the capability for a read-head to be detectedwhen the read-head is over a particular magnetic emulation circuit orportion of a magnetic emulation circuit. Read-head detectors 1741, 1742,1751, and 1752 may detect a read-head by sensing, for example,capacitive coupling of a read-head. Alternatively, for example, aread-head contact may be, for example, pressed against another contactwhen pressure is applied via a read-head.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a display on the cardmay display a credit card number that does not change with time.Additionally, for example, a magnetic emulator (or multiple magneticemulators) may magnetically communicate financial data that does notchange with time. Such a card may reduce, for example, the effects ofphysical card theft and card cloning.

One or more light generation devices, such as a Light Emitting Diode(LED), may be provided as part of a card (or other device). Such an LEDmay produce light, for example, upon a manual input such as a buttonpress, the correct entry of a PIC such as a PIN, and/or the incorrectentry of a PIC. A light emitting device may be operable to producedifferent colors of light. For example, the incorrect entry of a PIC mayproduce a red light and the correct entry of a PIC may produce a greenlight. A PIC may take any form such as a numerical code or a code thatinclude alphabet letters and/or symbols. For example, a PIC may be“A-B-B-B-A” and an “A” button may be provided on a card in addition to a“B” button (as well as other buttons such as a “C,” “D,” and/or “E”buttons).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any numbers of a creditcard number may remain static and/or change either with time or basedoff a transaction (e.g., by sensing a read-head “swipe”). Additionally,any static and/or dynamic numbers may be displayed via a display orprinted on a card. For example, a middle 6 digits of a credit/debit cardnumber may be static and may be displayed on a display. Such a middle 6digits may be displayed, for example, upon the entry of a correct PIC.Similarly, a magnetic emulator may not communicate information until acorrect PIC has been entered by a user. Doing so may, for example,reduce fraud associated with card cloning. Additionally, a receipts maybe provided that includes masked credit card numbers except for the lastfew digits of credit card numbers. Accordingly, displaying a staticmiddle 6 digits of credit card numbers may allow for such a receipt tobe provided while still reducing credit card fraud from hiding numbersthat are not displayed on such a receipt. Any amount of numbers and/orcharacters may be displayed through a display. For example, nineteendigits may be displayed as part of a credit/debit numbers and thesenumbers may also be communicated through one or more magnetic emulationcircuits. The entry of particular PICs may provide different results.For example, a first PIC may only display a string of alphanumericcharacters. A second PIC may only activate a magnetic emulation circuitto transmit information including that string of alphanumeric characters(or a different string). A third PIC may activate a magnetic emulationcircuit and a display. A display and/or magnetic emulation circuit maybe turned OFF, for example, upon entry of an incorrect PIC and/or aftera period of time has passed since the entry of the PIC and/or after thedetection of a particular number of swipes by a read-head detector(e.g., one or two).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a credit/debit cardnumber (or any other information) may remain static until an eventoccurs and then may become dynamic (e.g., change based on swipes and/ortime). For example, a particular PIC may change from a static to adynamic topology and/or a topology may be changed from static to dynamicafter a pre-determined period of time. Additionally a card and/or devicemay include a wireless receiver and a topology may be changed from astatic to a dynamic topology upon, for example, receiving an appropriatesignal from the wireless receiver. Accordingly, a validation process maychange at a validation server depending upon whether a card is utilizinga static and/or dynamic topology at any given time. Additionally, astatic credit/debit card number may be printed on the face of a card andinformation (e.g., a security code) may be displayed via a display andremain static over time (or with use) or be provided dynamically.

A card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may accept apre-determined number of consecutive incorrect PICs before locking thecard for a period of time or until an appropriate secondary PIC isentered. Accordingly, a user may enter in an incorrect PIC a number oftimes and then, after a card becomes locked, call a support center for asecondary one-time use PIC. A card may cycle through unlocking PICsbased, for example, on time or the number of previous unlock attempts.

A website may be provided where a user enters in his/her credit cardnumber, pays a fee, and a new card is programmed and sent to the user.The new card may include a display to display a portion of the userscredit/debit card number in a static form upon entry of an appropriatePIC. Such a card may also include one or more magnetic emulationcircuits to transmit the information to a reader. Such a card may or maynot, for example, include a portion of a magnetic stripe. For example,three tracks of magnetic stripe data may be communicated via threedifferent emulation circuits, more than three different emulationcircuits, one emulation circuits (e.g., tracks communicated serially toall read-heads), or one or more tracks may be represented by magneticstripe(s) while one or more other tracks may be represented by amagnetic emulation circuit. A track of data may also be partiallyrepresented by a magnetic emulation circuit and partially represented bya magnetic stripe.

FIG. 18 shows card 1800 that may include, for example, one or more ICchips 1830 (e.g., EMV chips), RFID antennas 1820, processors 1840,displays 1850, dynamic magnetic communications devices 1810 (e.g.,magnetic encoders and/or magnetic emulators), batteries 1860, andbuttons 1851 and 1852. Additional circuitry 1898 may be provided whichmay be, for example, one or more oscillators or emulator drivingcircuits. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that button 1851may, for example, be utilized by a user to select one encryptionalgorithm for a number displayed on display 1850 while button 1852 maybe utilized by a user to select a different encryption algorithm.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the components of card1800 may be provided on either surface of a card (e.g., a front or rearsurface of the card) or inside of a card. A logo (e.g., of a cardissuer) and logo may be provided on either surface of a card.

A button, such as button 1051, may be utilized, for example, to displaya number. Such a number may be, for example, encrypted from a securenumber based on time or use. For example, one-time use numbers (e.g., apayment number or code) may be retrieved from a list of numbers onmemory each time button 1851 is pressed and displayed on display 1850. Aprocessor may only go through each number once on a list. A registrationprocess may be provided in which a user may be requested to enter in asequence of numbers such that a remote server may validate the card andlearn where in a sequence of a list a card currently resides. Numbersmay be repeated on a list or may only occur once on a list. All of thenumbers available by the length of the number may be utilized by thelist or only a portion of the numbers available by the length of thenumber may be provided by the list. A secret number may be encrypted ona card and a verification server may also have knowledge of this secretnumber. Accordingly, the remote server may perform the same encryptionfunction as the card on the secret number and verify that the resultantencrypted number is the same as the resultant encrypted number on acard. Alternatively, for example, the remote server may decrypt thereceived encrypted number to determine the authenticity of the encryptednumber and validate an activity (e.g., validate a security accessrequest or a purchase transaction).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that a card mayinclude an IC chip (e.g., EMV chip), RFID, and a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or encoder). The sameinformation may be communicated through, for example, any number of suchdevices (e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device, RFID, and anEMV chip). A central processor may cause each device to communicate theinformation (in the same format or a different format). Each componentmay have its own processor or driving circuitry. Such individualprocessors or driving circuitry may be coupled to a central processor.An EMV chip may be utilized, for example, to provide control signals toother devices (e.g., circuitry driving a display as well as a dynamicmagnetic communications device). Such an EMV chip may receive signalsprovided by one or more buttons to determine, for example, that aparticular button, or sequence of buttons, was pressed by a user.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-head housing mayinclude, for example, multiple read-heads. A read-head detector may,more generally, detect a read-head housing and, in doing so, detect aread-head.

FIG. 19 shows card 1900 that may include, for example, signature area1940 that may include a material operable to receive marks from a pen(e.g., a signature). Card 1900 may also include, for example, displays1920 and 1930. Display 1920 may, for example, display a payment numberwhile display 1930 displays a security code (e.g., for online purchaseauthentication). Display 1920 as well as display 1930 may be utilized onthe same side as, for example, dynamic magnetic communications device1910.

FIG. 20 shows personal electronic device 2000 which may be, for example,a portable telephonic device, portable media player, or any type ofelectronic device. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thefunctionality of a card may be provided on a personal device anddisplayed through a graphical user interface. Personal electronic device2000 may include, for example, user inputs 2040 and display 2010.Virtual card 2020 may be displayed on display 2020. Display 2020 may bea touch-sensitive display such that, for example, virtual button 2030may be provided on virtual card 2020. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that cards may be provided as virtual cards and a user mayinteract with such virtual cards in order to provide a variety offunctions. Personal electronic device 2000 may communicate to a cardreader such as, for example, an RFID reader.

A display may be bi-stable or non bi-stable. A bi-stable display mayconsume electrical energy to change the information displayed on thebi-stable display but may not consume electrical energy to maintain thedisplay of that information. A non bi-stable display may consumeelectrical energy to both change and maintain information on the nonbi-stable display. A display driving circuit may be provided, forexample, for a bi-stable display (or a non bi-stable display). Such adisplay driving circuit may step-up a supply voltage (e.g., 1-5 volts)to a larger voltage (e.g., 6-15 volts) such that a bi-stable display maychange displayed information. A controller (e.g., a processor) may beutilized to control such a display driving circuit. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may be configured to displaynumerical data or alphanumerical data. A display may also be configuredto display other indicia (e.g., the image of a battery and its remaininglife).

A magnetic stripe reader may, for example, determine information on amagnetic stripe by detecting the frequency of changes in magnetic fields(e.g., flux transversals). A particular frequency of flux transversalsmay correlate to, for example, a particular information state (e.g., alogic “1” or a logic “0”). Accordingly, for example, a magnetic emulatormay change the direction of an electromagnetic field at particularfrequencies in order to communicate a different state of information(e.g., a logic “1” or a logic “0”).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulator mayelectromagnetically communicate information serially by changing themagnitude of an electromagnetic field with respect to time. As such, forexample, a current in a single direction may be provided through amagnetic emulator in order for that magnetic emulator to generate anelectromagnetic field of a single direction and a particular magnitude.The current may then be removed from the magnetic emulator such that,for example, the electromagnetic field is removed. The creation of apresence of an electromagnetic field, and the removal of thatelectromagnetic field, may be utilized to communicate information to,for example, a magnetic stripe reader. A magnetic stripe reader may beconfigured to read, for example, the change in flux versus time and mayassociate an increase in an electromagnetic field (e.g., creation of afield) as one flux transversal and a decrease (e.g., removal of a field)as another transversal. In doing so, for example, driving circuitry (notshown) may be provided which, in turn, controls when current is providedto a magnetic emulator. The timing of magnetic flux transversals, asdetermined by a magnetic stripe reader, may be utilized by that readerto determine whether a logic one (“1”) or logic zero (“0”) wascommunicated. Accordingly, a driving circuit may change the frequency ofwhen current is supplied and removed from a magnetic emulator in orderto communicate a logic one (“1”) or a logic zero (“0”).

A driving circuit may, for example, change the direction of currentsupplied to a magnetic emulator to increase the amount of change in anelectromagnetic field magnitude for a period of time. In doing so, forexample, a magnetic stripe reader may more easily be able to discernoverall changes in an electromagnetic field and, as such, may moreeasily be able to discern information. As such, for example, a drivingcircuit may increase the magnitude of an electromagnetic field byproviding negative current, decrease the amount of negative currentuntil no current is provided and provide an increasing positive currentin order to provide a large swing in the magnitude of an electromagneticfield. Similarly, a driving circuit may switch from providing one amountof negative current (or positive current) to one amount of positivecurrent (or negative current).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a string of a particularbit of data (e.g., a string of logic zeros “0s”) may be communicatedbefore as well as after information is communicated through a magneticemulator. A magnetic stripe reader may utilize such data, for example,to determine base timing information such that the magnetic stripereader has a timing reference that the reader can utilize to assist indetermining timing changes of perceived flux transversals. Accordingly,for example, a magnetic emulator may send data at different overallfrequencies and a magnetic stripe reader may be able to reconfigureitself to receive data at such overall frequencies. Information may beencoded using, for example, Frequency/Double Frequency (F2F) encodingsuch that magnetic stripe readers may perform, F2F decoding.

A processor may control one or more emulators by, for example,controlling the direction of the current supplied through one or moresegments of an emulator. By changing the direction of current through aregion, for example, the direction of an electromagnetic field may bechanged. Similarly, a processor may control one or more emulators by,for example, controlling the change in magnitude of current suppliedthrough one or more segments of an emulator. As such, for example, aprocessor may increase the magnitude of current as well as decrease themagnitude of current supplied through an emulator. A processor maycontrol the timing of such increases and decreases in current such thata magnetic emulator may, for example, communicate F2F encodedinformation.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder)may be fabricated, either completely or partially, in silicon andprovided as a silicon-based chip. Other circuitry (e.g., drivingcircuitry) may also be fabricated on such a silicon-based chip. Aprocessor, such as a processor for controlling a magnetic communicationsdevice, may be, for example, a programmable processor having on-boardprogrammable non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory), volatile memory(e.g., RAM), as well as a cache. Firmware as well as payment information(e.g., dynamic numbers) may be, for example, communicated from aprogramming device to a processor's on-board programmable non-volatilememory (e.g., a FLASH memory) such that a card may provide a variety offunctionalities. Such a processor may also have one or more power-savingoperating modes, in which each operating mode turns OFF a different setof circuitry to provide different levels of power consumption. One ormore power-savings modes may turn OFF, for example, one or more clockingcircuitry provided on a processor. An Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) may also be included in a card or other device toprovide, for example, processing, dynamic magnetic communications, aswell as driving capabilities.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways then those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

1. A system comprising: a magnetic emulator, wherein said magneticemulator is operable to electrically couple, and communicate data to, aread-head located on a magnetic stripe reader, wherein said magneticemulator is operated to detect the presence of said read-head beforecommunicating data to said read-head.
 2. A system comprising: a magneticemulator comprising: a first region operable to communicate dataserially to a first read-head on a magnetic stripe reader; and a secondregion not operable to communicate data to a second read-head on saidmagnetic stripe reader even if said second read-head passes over saidsecond region.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said data includes anumber generated based on time.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein saiddata includes a number generated based on use.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein said system further comprises a display and a button.